Geography

Geography is the scientific study of the locational and spatial variation of both physical, biological and human phenomena on Earth. The word derives from the Greek words γη or γεια ("Earth") and γραφειν ("to describe" and "to write,").

History of geography

:See main article: History of geography

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The Greeks are the first known culture to actively explore geography as a science and philosophy. Mapping by the Romans as they explored new lands added new techniques. During the Middle Ages, Arabs such as Idrisi, Ibn Batutta, and Ibn Khaldun maintained the Greek and Roman techniques and developed new ones.

Related Topics:
Greek - Science - Philosophy - Roman - Middle Ages - Arab - Idrisi - Ibn Batutta - Ibn Khaldun

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Following the journeys of Marco Polo, interest in geography spread throughout Europe. The great voyages of exploration in 16th and 17th centuries revived a desire for both accurate geographic detail, and more solid theoretical foundations. This period is also known as Great Geographical Discoveries. By the 18th century, geography had become recognized as a discrete discipline and became part of a typical university curriculum in Europe (especially Paris and Berlin).

Related Topics:
Marco Polo - Europe - 16th - 17th centuries - Great Geographical Discoveries - 18th century - University - Paris - Berlin

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Over the past two centuries the quantity of knowledge and the number of tools has exploded. There are strong links between geography and the sciences of geology and botany, as well as economics, sociology and demographics. In the West during the 20th century, the discipline of geography went through four major phases: environmental determinism, regional geography, the quantitative revolution, and critical geography.

Related Topics:
Geology - Botany - Economics - Sociology - Demographics - 20th century - Environmental determinism - Regional geography - Quantitative revolution - Critical geography

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